Electric gate



(No Model.) 5 SheetsSheet 1. H. GILLETTE.

ELECTRIC GATE No. 444,825. Patented Jan. 20, 1891.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2. H. GILLETTE.

ELECTRIC GATE. No. 444,825. Patented Jan. 20,1891.

In Vcntor:

WM Q6 W (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3. H. GILLETTE.

ELECTRIC GATE.

No. 444,325. Patented Jan. 20, 1891.

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5 Sheets-Sheet 4. H. GILLETTE.- ELEOTRIG GATE.

.(NO Model.)

Patented Jam 20, 1891.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5. H. GILLETTE.

ELECTRIC GATE. No. 444,825. Patented Jan. 20,1891.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IIARLIQIGII: GILLETTE, OF HIGHLAND FARK, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No: 44d,825, dated January 20, 1891.

Application filed October 3, 1890 Serial No. 366:993. (N0 model.)

To all 2071 0712 it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARLEIGH GILLETTE, of Highland Park, in the county of Lake and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Gates, of which the following is a true specification, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

This invention relates to gates for drawbridges, railway-crossings, &c., which are worked by electricity; and it consists of improvements in the structural and mechanical parts and electrical devices, whereby a light, strong, and simple structure is produced, readily and quickly operated by electric motors, the circuits of which are controlled from a point or station more or less remote.

Figure l is a front elevation of my improved electric gate. Fig. 2 is a section in the plane c c, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the upper right-hand corner, showing the gate-raising motor and mechanism with the guard-bar raised. Fig. i is a sectional View of the opposite or upper left-hand corner, showing the gate-closing motor and mechanism with the guard-bar lowered. Fig. 5 is a cross-section in the plane 50 a, Fig. -:L, giving a view of the automatic circuit-breaker from below. Fig. (3 is the side elevation of an engine, showing the position of the devices employed for closing and controlling the circuit of the magnet V, Figsll and 12. Figs.7 and 8 are side and top views, respectively, of the spring-conducting wheel K, Fig. (3. Fig. 9 is a cross-section of the special rails L L employed in closing the magnet-circuit. Fig. 10 is an enlarged plan of the circuit-connector 0, Fig. 6. Fig. 11 is a plan of the electric circuits for a complete or double railwaycrossing gate; and Fig. 12 is an enlarged view of the electromagnetic motor-circuit switch P, Fig. 11.

In describing my electric gate I will begin with the framework. This consists of two hollow iron posts or uprights A A across the top of which rests a wooden box-beam or cross-piece B, suitably provided, in the usual way, with iron guys or stays l) b b for supporting the same in a rigidly horizontal position. \V'lthin the said box-beam and immediately above the upper ends of the two hollow posts are journaled within suitable bearings, ailixed to the inner sides of the boxbeam, two short shafts, carrying sprocketwheels S S each of which is provided with an ordinary bevel-gear ai'iixed upon the same shaft with the said sprocket and revolving therewith. These bevel-gears C O mesh with small companion gears 0 c aftixed upon opposite ends of the shaft IV, by means of which the two large gears, with their parallel sprockets, are revolved together in opposite directions with unitorni speed. Both of the sprocket-wheels S S carry sprocketchains, the outside ends of which are attached to the guard bar or gate proper G and the opposite or inside ends to iron weights suspendedwithin the hollowposts. Theseweights E and E are each provided with a hook at the end of a lengthened neck or post 6, together with a number of removable independent rings c e c c, which fit over the said part c, and during the construction of the gate can be removed or replaced at pleasure, in order to exactly counterbalance the guardbar G.

From the above it can be seen that when sufficient poweris applied to revolve the shaft V in either direction the guard bar or gate proper G is respectively lowered or raised, as the case may be. The ends of the guard-bar G are provided with semi-annular collars or yoke's g g, following the curvature of the posts, as shown in Fig. 2. This construction prevents all longitu din-a1 motion of the guardbar, provides a guide for steadying same while being raised or lowered, and, while forming a strongly-braced obstruction when approached from the outside, at the same time permits the bar to be readily swung outward in case a team should be accidentallycaught between gates. The power I provide by means of two electric motors M and M, one for operating the mechanism to close the gate and the other for reversing the mechanism to reopen the Q'ate.

Referring to Figs 3 and 4,1' aliix upon the shaft IV two pulley-wheels D D One of these pulleys D is connected by a belt cl di-= rect to the pulley d upon the armature-shaft of the motor M, and the otherD is connected similarly to the pulley d on the shaft of the motor M. Thus when the electric current is turned on the motor M the mechanism is operatcd andthe gate closed; but when the said current is switched to the motor M the mech-' anism is reversed and the gate opened.

I will now describe the automatic circuitbreaker for the gate-closing motor M. This device consists of a ball J the conductingbridge I, and the spring-conductors i 2'. Upon these latter the bridge I rests, and thus completes the motor-circuit. In form it consists of a short thick round tube or ring fitting loosely and sliding within the upperpart of the post A, which serves as ,a guide thereforwhen raised or lowered. The large central aperture freely admits the passage of the chain 8, but at the same time is of much less size than the ball J, in consequence of which the said ball catches within and raises the bridge.

The conductors i 2" are provided upon their upper surface with metallic springs (not shown in the drawings) for the purpose of securing better contact with the bridge I when the circuit is closed.

In operation, as the guard-bar G is lowered by the gate-closing motor M, the ball J rises within the gate-post and proceeds until it reaches the bridge I, through which, on account of its size, it is unable to follow the chain, and consequently lifts the said bridge from the conductors t 1'', thus breaking the motor-circuit.

Turning to Fig. 3 the automatic circuitbreaker for the circuit of the gate-raising motor M consists simply of the connecting-lever F, hinged at f to the frame-work and provided with the electrical contact-point f, of platinum or similar metal, and the projection f, against which the guard-bar G impinges when it has reached the same in rising by the operation of the motor M. On being lifted by the impinging guard-bar (shown by the dotted lines) the motor-circuit is automatically broken. The electric motors M and M, with their respective circuits and circuit-breakers, as above specified, are provided, in addition to the necessary electric generator, with an ordinary hand-switch, whereby the current can be switched from one motor to the other. This is preferably made in the form of a rheostat, so that the speed of the motor can be suitably controlled and the full force of the current gradually introduced to prevent the burning of connections. On throwing over the electric switch II, the gate being in the position shown in Fig. 1, motor M is energized and the guard-bar G is lowered to the flanges a a, which position when attained corresponds with that of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 4. The automatic circuit breaker there shown is brought into action, (see dotted lines,) the electrical connection is severed and the motor stops. To raise the guard-bar and reopen the gate, the lever of the switch II is thrown back and the electric circuit of the motor M completed. This motor in operating reverses the gate mechanism. The guard-bar G is lifted until it impinges against the projection f, which throws upward the circuit-breaking lever F, breaksthe circuit at the pointf, and stops the motor. The foregoing constitutes a complete electric gate adapted for all purposes where the circuits are manipulated from a permanent stationary position.

To adapt my electric gate for the protection of railway-crossings and provide means for the automatic working of the gate by passing trains, I employ the electrical devices shown in Figs. 6 to 12. In place of the plain circuit-switch H above mentioned, I substitute the special electro-magnetic switch P, Fig. 11, an enlarged plan of which is shown in Fig. 12. This switch consists of six electrical contact-points p p p and r r W, the first and last three of which are respectively connected to the motors h and M, through graduated resistance-coils from p to p and from r to r in each case, as in an ordinary rheostat. This serves the purpose of more gradually introducing the full force of the current to each motor as the switch-arm is alternately swung back and forth. oted at its center and provided at one end with the spring-connecting arm r and at the other end with a pin r working within the slot 15 upon the end of the magnet armaturelever T. This latter, pivoted at its lower end, is provided upon one side with a strip of soft iron 25, forming the armature of the magnet V, and is further provided with a closed tension-spring t, which draws the armature-le- This switch-arm R ispiv- IOO ver away from the magnet and holds the same 1 e in its normal position. (Shown inthe figures.) The electro-magnet V, firmlysecured to the frame-work in the position shown, fnrnishcs the means for operating the switch.

In Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive is shown the means for automatically closing the circuit of the magnet V by the approaching and passing engine. This magnet is provided with a generator and one or more circuits depending upon the number of tracks and the direction of passing trains.

I In Fig. 11 is shown the plan of circuits adapted for a single track upon which trains pass the crossing in either direction.

1 In the drawings, L L are special insulated conducting-rails secured to the cross-ties between the rails of the regular track at positions to the right and left of the center, and are connected together with the regular trackrails U U within. the open electro-magnet ordinary circuit-connector O, placed within the cab for manipulation by the engineer, is also provided for reasons hereinafter stated.

Referring to Fig. 11, an engine approaclr ing from the right as soon as it reaches the section provided with the rail L, which may be extended an eighth or a quarter of a mile up the track, will complete the magnet-circuit from the said rail L through the wheel K, spring 7;, circuit-connecter O, and the driving-wheel of the locomotive X to the rails U U. The magnet-circuit being closed, the magnet 'V draws to itself the armature t, attached to the lever T, which latter throws over the switch-arm R, completing the circuit, which operates the motors M M. These motors immediately revolve and lower the guard-arms of their respective gates. \Vhen the locomotive reaches the point P, the conducting-wheel K leaves its rail L and the magnet-circuit is reopened, the switch-lever is drawn back by the spring t to the position shown in the drawings, and the circuits of the motors M. M are completed to raise the guards. A train in approaching from the left will complete the magnet-circuit between the rail L and the track U U and similarly operate the gates, as aforesaid.

While ordinarily the passing engine operates the gates automatically, a circuit-connectin g lever O is placed in the cab to enable the engineer to open the magnet-circuit in case the train should stop before reaching the gate, and itthus becomes unnecessary to lower the guards. Upon each of the gates an electric bell b is affixed in a prominent position and provided with a generator and circuits, whereby ample warning is given before the guards are lowered.

In constructing my electric gate I do not confine myself strictly to the mechanical details specified. Veil-known equivalents may be substituted in the different parts when found desirable.

Having thus described the several featur 73, I claim as my invention 1. In an electric gate, the combination, with the posts provided with a guard-bar mechanically connected to two electric motors, agenerator, circuits, and circuit-closers therefor,

and two automatic circuit-breakers for same, one of which consists of a hinged connectinglever provided with a projection adapted to be impinged upon and lifted by the said guard-bar upon reaching its extreme limit of motion, substantially as specified.

2. In an electric gate, the combination, with the posts provided with a guard-bar mechanically connected to two electric motors, a generator, circuits, and circuit-closers therefor, and two automatic circuit-breakers for same, one of which consists of a connecting-bridge mechanically connected to the motor, and provided with a guidingslide, through which the same is automatically lifted to break the circuit, substantially as specified.

In an electric gate, the combination, with the gate proper, mechanically connected to two electric motors, provided with a generator, circuits, and automatic circuit-breakers, of circuit-closers therefor, consisting of a movable switching-conductor provided with a spring and carrying the armature of an electro-magnet, together with the said electro-magnet having its individual circuit, generator, and circuit-closer, substantially as specified.

4. The combination, with the posts and with gate-operating mechanism which includes pulleys, of a guard-bar suspended therefrom and provided with the semi-annular postyokes g and g, substantially as specified.

5. In an electric gate, the combination, with the gate-posts and crossbeam provided with aguard-barsuspended from pulleys and counterbalanced by weights, of an electric motor for lowering the said gnarlbar, mechanically connected to the same, and provided with an electric generator, circuit, circuit-closer. and automatic cut-off, and another electric motor for opening the gate, with a generator, circuit, circuit closer, and automatic out Off therefor, substantially as specified. 

